He was born in Lorain, OH on January 15, 1934 to his parents, John and Mary (nee O’Brien) Downie.

John was affectionately known as Jack to many family and friends. He was raised in Lorain and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Class of 1951. He then graduated from John Carroll University in 1955 where he served in the ROTC program. Jack was accepted into Law School in 1955 and he graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School in 1959 and passed his Bar Exam on September 29, 1959. Following his education, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

John began his corporate career in Cleveland at Diamond Shamrock and then was recruited to Cole National Corporation in 1969 as the Company’s first in-house legal counsel. He served the Company as Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel, where he was ultimately awarded the prestigious President’s Award in 1975 for his outstanding contributions to the growth and success of the Company.

For many years, he served as a Board member of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese Cemetery, John Carroll University, Urban Community Schools, Cleveland Labor School, the Ohio State Bar, the 250 Club of Cleveland, and other various Boards of Cleveland Catholic Diocese.

He was a member of St. Peter Parish in Lorain and a past member of the Cleveland Yacht Club and the Vermilion Boat Club.

He is survived by sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Al Treboniak; sister-in-law, Patricia Downie; nieces and nephews from the Downie, Treboniak and Svat families; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Downie; brother, Patrick J. Downie Sr.; and sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Richard Svat.

The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1961 on Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 3 – 6 PM. Closing prayers will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 8:50 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM, Friday, November 17, 2017 at St. Peter Parish, 3655 Oberlin Ave, Lorain, Fr. Craig M. Hovanec, Pastor, officiating. Christian burial services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain where military honors will be performed by the Amvets Post 32. Online condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared with the family by using www.rsgfuneralhome.com.